Multi-instrumentalist and composer Majid Bekkas was born and still lives in Sale, Morocco. He learned Gnawa music through the teachings of the master Ba Houmane.
Bekkas includes elements of contemporary western music in Gnawa music and has worked jazz musicians such as Peter Brotzmann, Archie Shepp, Flavio Boltro, Louis Sclavis, Joachim Kühn, and Ramon Lopez.
His song “Daymallah” represents Morocco on the award-winning CD compilation Desert Blues 2.
In his Afro-Oriental Jazz Trio, he plays with reed player Manuel Hermia and percussionist Khalid Kouhen.
In 2020, Majid Bekkas released Magic Spirit Quartet, a collaboration with trumpeter Goran Kajfes, born in Stockholm of Croatian parents (Subtropic Arkestra); keyboardist Jesper Nordenstrom (Sweden), and Danish drummer Stefan Pasborg.
The album Joudour came out in 2022. With this new project, he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his eponymous album African Gnaoua Blues. It was a return to his roots in the company of musicians and friends used to this musical and human adventure: Manuel Hermia on saxophone and flute; Childo Tomas,
a bass player from Mozambique; Karim Ziad, an Algerian drummer and great specialist of Maghrebian rhythms and Gnawa music; Michael Hornek, an Austrian pianist; and Khalid Kouhen, a Moroccan master of Indian, African and Brazilian percussion.
Guests included Bouhssine Foulane, an Amazigh musician, virtuoso of the ribab (Berber single-string violin); Adil Chorfi, Moroccan player of the Nei de Kawala and violin; Mustapha Antari, virtuoso of oriental percussion; Biboul Darwiche, Cameroonian percussionist specialised in Bantu rhythms; and Marylène Ingremeau (choir) who has a passionate interest in the many ways of using the voice throughout the world.
Joudour album was produced remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Each composition recorded
in Salé (Morocco) was sent to each of the musicians for their contribution. That method left room for freedom of musical expression and revealed Majid’s multi-instrumentalist talents. In addition to the guembri, the guitar and the oud, Majid played the ngoni, bouzouki, kalimba and the balafon, revisiting the rhythms and musical colors of Morocco, desert music and Africa.
Discography:
Soudaniyé (1991)
African Gnaoua Blues (Igloo Records, 2002)
La Cité Invisible – Rencontre À Casablanca (Nord Sud, 2003)
Mogador (Igloo Records, 2004)
Kalimba (Act Records, 2007)
Out of The Desert (Act Records, 2009)
Passport to Morocco, avec Klaus Doldinger (Wea, 2009)
The Art of Baroque, Jazz, Dance & World Music (Keytone Records, 2009)
African Jazz ‘n Bar (Hippo Records, 2009)
Makenba (Igloo Records, 2010)
Les Amants De Juliette & Majid Bekkas (Quoi de Neuf Docteur, 2010)
Makenba (Igloo Records, 2010)
In All, Marula (Morgenland Records, 2010)
Chalaba (Act Records)
Mabrouk (Bee Jazz, 2011)
Vodoo Sense (Act Records, 2014)
Al qantara (Igloo Records, 2013)
Laafou (2015)
Magic Spirit Quartet (Act Music, 2020)
Joudour (Igloo, 2022)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.